Gators Double-Header Action Starts with Victory Over Florida A&M
Gators defeated Florida A&M Thursday night at the O’Dome. The 102-67 victory puts Florida at 2-0 heading into the second week of non-conference play.
Florida women’s basketball started the Thursday evening double-header with a 102-67 win over Florida A&M. The Gators 35-point margin of victory marked their second win of the 2024-25 campaign, and first 100+ point performance since Dec. 17, 2023 (115-37 vs. Gardner-Webb).
Six Gators reached double figures for scoring. Freshman Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880> led with 21-points, followed by senior Ra Shaya Kyle’s<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ra-shaya-kyle/16858> 19. Kyle also secured her first double-double of the season, grabbing 12 rebounds to lead the Gators on defense.
IN THE FIRST:
* Florida opened the game with a 9-0 run
* Alexia Gassett<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/alexia-gassett/16882> scored her first basket as a Florida Gator (4:11)
* Freshman Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880> distributed three assists
* Ra Shaya Kyle<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ra-shaya-kyle/16858> secured four of the Gators seven rebounds
* The Gators converted for 12 points off Florida A&M turnovers
IN THE SECOND:
* Jeriah Warren<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jeriah-warren/16862> led all in scoring with seven points
* The Gators shot 69.2 percent from the field (9-13)
* Florida totaled 24 points in the second for a combined 47 in the first half
* 12 of Florida’s 24 points in the second came from inside the paint
IN THE THIRD:
* Alexia Dizeko<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/alexia-dizeko/16856> shot 100 percent from the field to lead the Gators in scoring with eight points (2-2 from the three, 2-2 from the free throw line)
* Four combined to distribute a game high six assists in the third
* Seven different Gators secured one or more rebounds
* Florida ended the quarter shooting 71.4 percent from the field (10-14)
IN THE FOURTH:
* Florida’s 28-points was its game high
* Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880> hit 10 of her total 21 points in the fourth
* Ra Shaya Kyle<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ra-shaya-kyle/16858>, Kenza Salgues<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kenza-salgues/16861>, and McGill all shot 100 percent from the free throw
* Kyle snagged five rebounds in upwards of four minutes
WORTH NOTING:
* For the third consecutive year, Florida holds a 2-0 record to start the season (2022, 2023, 2024)
* The Gators had a 100+ point outing for the first time since Dec. 17, 2023 (115 vs. Gardner-Webb)
* Six Gators hit double digits for scoring, McGill (21), Kyle (19), Dizeko (13), Warren (13), Salgues (12), Gassett (11)
* Two Gators with career high scoring Thursday; Dizeko (13), McGill (21)
* Daviane Mindoudi Ongbakahoumb<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/daviane-mindoudi-ongbakahoumb/17197> grabbed her first points as a Gator with five
* The Gators scored 20+ points in all four quarters
* Florida’s largest lead of the game was +40 in the fourth quarter (1:45)
* The Gators had 33 points off Florida A&M turnovers
* Florida out-rebounded the Rattlers 35 to 31
* Seven Gators logged at least one steal for a combined 11
THE RETURN OF RA SHAYA KYLE:
* Secured her first double-double of the 2024-25 season with 19 points and 12 rebounds. It was her 13th of her Gator career
* Opened the scoring column for the Gators in back-to-back games
* Kyle was one point away from her career high in scoring
* Career high stands at 20 points and was secured vs. Dayton on Nov. 20, 2021
* With 12 rebounds, Kyle led Florida on the boards
* This marks her 24th time as the Gators leading rebounder in a single game
* Ended the night shooting 100 percent from the field (7-7)
* Garnered an 83.3 percent from the charity stripe (5-6)
* Hit double figures in scoring before the end of the first half with 13 points
DID YOU KNOW:
Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880> is the first Gator freshman in almost 19 years to start her collegiate career with double-digit scoring efforts. She turned in 14 points in Monday’s win versus Florida Atlantic and posted 21 versus Florida A&M.
The last was Sha Brooks in the 2005-06 campaign. Brooks opened her Gator career with 14 points on Nov. 18, 2005 in a home win versus St. Francis (N.Y.) and followed with 18 points in a road victory at Seton Hall on Nov. 18, 2005.
GATOR BITES:
UF coach Kelly Rae Finley<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/kelly-rae-finley/1658> on six Gators scoring in double-figures:
“It was a team win, that’s who we are and that’s how we play. We share the ball and we’re going to be hard to guard. We’ve known from the beginning of the season that we are a very versatile team and that’s going to be a strength of ours.”
Freshman Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880> on her 21-point performance:
“Turning up my defense a notch, that’s what really gets me going. Coach Kelly is encouraging me and my teammates by just telling us we got this. Playing defense helps me get in my groove. My teammates sharing the ball, passing the ball in, and getting defensive stops – that’s what really got me going.”
TEAM RECORDS:
Florida: 2-0 (0-0 SEC)
Florida A&M: 0-2 (0-0 SWAC)
SERIES RECORD:
Florida leads Florida A&M 13-5 in the all-time series
NEXT UP:
The Gators continue this season-opening four-game home stand on Tuesday when Chicago State makes its first trip to Gainesville. The Cougars started the season with two road losses and will open home action Sat., Nov. 9 versus Cleveland State.
NEXT UP: Chicago State (0-2, 0-0 NEC)
* Date: Tues., Nov. 12
* Time: 7 p.m. ET
* Site: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://floridagators.com/sports/2020/4/4/exactech-arena-stephen-c-oconnell-center.aspx>
* Stream: SEC Network +<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/df8db19b-e483-463f-9353-88c9959c0e10>
* Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5512&type=Live>
* Stats: StatBroadcast<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=552536>
* Tickets<https://floridagators.com/sports/2022/12/15/womens-basketball-tickets.aspx>
* Promotions: Pick up a schedule magnet and be sure to sign up to win a Raising Cane’s gift basket.
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